Tag for order fulfillment

ABSTRACT

Methods, devices, and systems for a tag for order fulfillment are described herein. One or more embodiments include a number of tags each associated with a corresponding inventory bin of a warehouse, each tag configured to broadcast unique identification information, and a mobile device configured to receive, from a database, order information including identification information of one of the number of tags and a type and a quantity of an item of an inventory bin of the warehouse corresponding to the tag, and scan for identification information of the tag.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 14/992,536 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,600,109), titled“TAG FOR ORDER FULFILLMENT,” filed Jan. 11, 2016, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for atag for order fulfillment.

BACKGROUND

Order fulfillment operations in a facility such as a warehouse, forexample, can include filling orders by picking inventory from binslocated on shelves or placing inventory in bins located on shelves of awarehouse. Many order fulfillment operations can take place in largewarehouse settings. Therefore, warehouse operators may want to bevigilant about users picking and/or placing the correct item type,quantity, and location of inventory items, as well as performing pickand/or place operations quickly and efficiently. Additionally, warehouseoperators may want to ensure users are following efficient routesthrough the warehouse to the inventory items to be picked or placed.

Attaching a light to each item bin in a warehouse can be one strategy toprovide assistance to users picking and/or placing items on warehouseshelves. However, attaching a light to each bin may require the lightsto be powered, as well as connected to a central system to turn on thecorrect light. Additionally, one light may be confusing if multipleusers are working in the same area of the warehouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for order fulfillment, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a tag for order fulfillment, in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile device for order fulfillment, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a tag for order fulfillment, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems, methods, and devices for order fulfillment are describedherein. For example, one or more embodiments include a number of tagseach associated with a corresponding inventory bin of a warehouse, eachtag configured to broadcast unique identification information, and amobile device configured to receive, from a database, order informationincluding identification information of one of the number of tags and atype and a quantity of an item of an inventory bin of the warehousecorresponding to the tag, and scan for identification information of thetag.

Tags broadcasting unique identification information can allow a userwith mobile device to quickly and efficiently navigate a facility suchas a warehouse to find the tag corresponding to a bin including itemsfor a pick/place order in the warehouse, as well as select the correcttype and quantity of an item from the bin. Once the mobile device iswithin a threshold distance of the tag, the mobile device can cause alight of the tag to turn on, allowing the user to easily find the tagand the corresponding bin while avoiding confusion with other users inthe warehouse similarly performing pick/place orders.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof. The drawings show by wayof illustration how one or more embodiments of the disclosure may bepracticed.

These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those ofordinary skill in the art to practice one or more embodiments of thisdisclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may bemade without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments hereincan be added, exchanged, combined, and/or eliminated so as to provide anumber of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. Theproportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in thefigures are intended to illustrate the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the firstdigit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and theremaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.Similar elements or components between different figures may beidentified by the use of similar digits. For example, tag 102 as shownin FIG. 1 can be tag 402, as shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, thedesignator “N”, as used herein, particularly with respect to referencenumerals in the drawings, indicates that a number of the particularfeature so designated can be included with a number of embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

As used herein, “a” or “a number of” something can refer to one or moresuch things. For example, “a number of tags” can refer to one or moretags.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for order fulfillment, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1,system 100 can include a tag 102, a mobile device 104, and a database106.

Tag 102 can broadcast unique identification information. Tag 102 canutilize a lower power radio included in tag 102 to broadcast the uniqueidentification information. For example, the low power radio of tag 102can utilize a low power wireless personal area network radio, such asBluetooth low energy radio, to broadcast the unique identificationinformation of tag 102, although embodiments of the present disclosureare not limited to Bluetooth low energy radio.

Tag 102 can be associated with an inventory bin. A warehouse can includemany items that may be organized by item type, where each item type caninclude a bin that stores the items. For example, a warehouse may storea first product in a first inventory bin, and a second product in asecond inventory bin. Inventory bins may be stored in or on shelvingincluded in the warehouse in order to maximize the space available tothe warehouse to store items.

As used herein, unique identification information of tag 102 can includea media access control (MAC) address, as well as physical locationinformation. A MAC address can refer to a unique identifier assigned tonetwork interfaces for communications on a physical network. The MACaddress can be unique to tag 102. Further, the physical locationinformation can include coordinate location information that can beunique to a warehouse the tag is placed in. For example, physicallocation information can include coordinate location informationcorresponding to a physical location of the tag in the warehouse.

Although tags are described as being included in a facility such as awarehouse, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. Forexample, tags can be placed in any other type of building, as well as anoutdoor environment, such as an indoor and/or outdoor warehouse setting.

Although not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity and so as not to obscureembodiments of the present disclosure, system 100 can include more thanone tag. For example, system 100 can include a number of tags, as willbe further described in connection with FIG. 3. Each of the number oftags can include a unique MAC address to uniquely identify each tag tomobile device 104, as will be further described herein.

System 100 can include a mobile device 104. Mobile device 104 canreceive order information from a database 106. As used herein, a mobiledevice can include devices that are (or can be) carried and/or worn by auser. For example, mobile device 104 can be a phone (e.g., a smartphone), a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), smart glasses,and/or a wrist-worn device (e.g., a smart watch), among other types ofmobile devices.

As used herein, database 106 can refer to an inventory database. Forexample, database 106 can be an inventory database that can storeinventory information of the warehouse, order information, taginformation that can include tag identification and positionalinformation, and user identity information, among other types ofinformation.

Mobile device 104 can receive order information from database 106.Receiving order information at mobile device 104 can include receivingan item type and/or quantity for a user to pick and/or place from aninventory bin. For example, a business that may utilize a warehouse tostore items for sale can receive an order for items from a customer.Database 106 can send order information corresponding to the customer'sorder to mobile device 104, which can include a type of item, a quantityof the item, as well as identification information of a tagcorresponding to the inventory bin having the type of item. The orderinformation can additionally enable a user to navigate the warehouse toselect the type and quantity of item included in the order information.

Mobile device 104 can receive order information from database 106 via anetwork relationship. For example, mobile device 104 can receive orderinformation from database 106 via a wired or wireless network. The wiredor wireless network can be a network relationship that connects mobiledevice 104 to database 106. Examples of such a network relationship caninclude a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), personalarea network (PAN), a distributed computing environment (e.g., a cloudcomputing environment), storage area network (SAN), Metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), a cellular communications network, and/or the Internet,among other types of network relationships.

Once order information is received at mobile device 104, mobile device104 can scan for identification information of tag 102. For example,mobile device 104 can scan for identification information included inthe order information received from database 106. Scanning foridentification information can include utilizing a radio included inmobile device 104 to scan for the identification information broadcastby the lower power radio of tag 102. That is, mobile device 104 can scanfor identification information such as the physical location informationof tag 102 as well as the MAC address of tag 102, included in the orderinformation received at mobile device 104 from database 106.

A user of mobile device 104 can utilize the physical locationinformation of tag 102 included in the order information to determine aphysical coordinate location of tag 102 within the warehouse. Forexample, using the physical location information, mobile device 104 candisplay tag 102 on a warehouse map displayed to the user via a displayof mobile device 104. Utilizing the location of tag 102 displayed on thewarehouse map via the display of mobile device 104, a user can navigatethrough the warehouse to tag 102.

Once mobile device 104 is within a threshold distance of tag 102, mobiledevice 104 can begin communicating with tag 102. That is, mobile device104 can communicate with tag 102 in response to mobile device 104 beingwithin a threshold distance of tag 102. For example, once mobile device104 is within 50 feet of tag 102, mobile device 104 can begincommunicating with tag 102. As another example, once mobile device 104is within 75 feet of tag 102, mobile device 104 can begin communicatingwith tag 102.

As used herein, the threshold distance of a tag can refer to the rangeof the low power radio of the tag. For example, the range of the lowpower radio of the tag can be 50 feet, which can correspond to thethreshold distance of the tag.

Although the threshold distance of tag 102 is described as being 50 feetor 75 feet, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited.For example, the threshold distance can be between 50 and 75 feet.However, the threshold distance can also be less than 50 feet, or morethan 75 feet.

The threshold distance can be based on the layout of tags of thewarehouse. For example, the threshold distance of tag 102 can be lessthan 50 feet if the warehouse includes a large number of tags in aconfined area. As another example, the threshold distance of tag 102 canbe more than 75 feet if the warehouse includes a small number of tagsthat are spaced apart.

Communication with tag 102 by mobile device 104 can include sendinginformation from mobile device 104 to tag 102. For example, in responseto mobile device 104 being within a threshold distance of tag 102,mobile device can send a pick quantity of an item to be picked and/or aplace quantity of an item to be placed to tag 102.

Sending information from mobile device 104 to tag 102 can includeinformation to cause a light of tag 102 to activate. That is, a lightincluded with tag 102 can activate in response to mobile device 104being within a threshold distance of tag 102. For example, mobile device104 can send an instruction to tag 102 to activate a light included withtag 102. Additionally, tag 102 can include a display that can displaythe pick and/or place quantity of an item to be picked and/or placed, aswill be further described herein.

A user of mobile device 104 can utilize the light of tag 102 to quicklylocate tag 102 and the bin corresponding to tag 102. For example, theuser can utilize the light of tag 102 to visually locate tag 102 and thecorresponding bin of items. Once the user has located the bin, the usercan pick and/or place the requested item and quantity of item out ofand/or into the bin, respectively. For example, the user can pick out aquantity of items from the bin associated with tag 102 in order tosatisfy the order information, where the quantity of items to be pickedfrom the bin were included in order information received from database106 at mobile device 104.

In some embodiments, each user's corresponding mobile device can cause alight of tag 102 to activate as a unique color. That is, in facilitiesthat may include a number of users performing pick and/or placeoperations, each user's mobile device can cause a light of the number oftags to activate a unique color to enable multiple users to perform pickand/or place operations in a small area. For example, a first user maycause a light of a first tag to activate as a blue color, and a seconduser may cause a light of a second tag that may be located close to thefirst tag to activate as a yellow color. In this way, multiple users canperform pick and/or place operations in a confined area while avoidingconfusion as to which user is activating the light of each tag.

In some embodiments, each user's corresponding mobile device can cause alight of tag 102 to continuously blink (e.g., strobe) at a uniquefrequency and/or pattern. That is, in facilities that may include anumber of users performing pick and/or place operations, each user'smobile device can cause a light of the number of tags to blink a uniquefrequency and/or pattern to enable multiple users to perform pick and/orplace operations in a small area. For example, a first user may cause alight of a first tag to blink at a first frequency, and a second usermay cause a light of a second tag that may be located close to the firsttag to blink at a second frequency that is faster and/or slower than theblink frequency of the first tag. In this way, multiple users canperform pick and/or place operations in a confined area while avoidingconfusion as to which user is activating the light of each tag.

Although described as assigning unique colors or blink frequencies foreach user's corresponding mobile device, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not so limited. For example, a unique color can becombined with a unique blink frequency to further distinguish usersperforming pick and/or place operations in a confined area.

In some embodiments, sending information from mobile device 104 to tag102 can include information to cause an audio tone of tag 102 to beactivated via a speaker of tag 102. For example, mobile 104 can send aninstruction to tag 102 to play an audio tone through a speaker of tag102 that a user can utilize to audibly locate tag 102. Each user'smobile device can cause a unique audio tone to be activated at tag 102,allowing multiple users who may be performing pick/place operations inthe same area to find the correct tag among various other tags that maybe emitting audio tones corresponding to the multiple other users in thearea.

Satisfying the order information can include a user picking a correcttype and a correct quantity of an item included in the orderinformation. For example, once a user has located tag 102 and thecorresponding bin that includes items to be picked, the user can pickthe correct quantity of items from the bin in order to satisfy the orderinformation received at mobile device 104 from database 106.

Picking items from a bin can be done in response to a customer placingan order for a particular item and/or number of items. For example, inresponse to a customer order for an item, a user of mobile device 104can pick the item to satisfy order information corresponding to thecustomer's order.

Satisfying the order information can include a user placing a correcttype and a correct quantity of an item included in the orderinformation. For example, once a user has located tag 102 and thecorresponding bin that includes items to be placed, the user can placethe correct quantity of items into the bin in order to satisfy the orderinformation received at mobile device 104 from database 106.

Placing items from a bin can be done in response a particular itemand/or number of items needing to be placed in a bin. For example, inresponse to a customer return of an item, a user of mobile device 104can place the item to satisfy order information corresponding to thecustomer's return. As another example, in response to new inventoryitems being received at the warehouse, a user of mobile device 104 canplace the newly received items into the correct bins.

Once a user has picked and/or placed the correct item and quantity ofitems, mobile device 104 can receive confirmation information from tag102 in response to the order information being satisfied. That is,mobile device 104 can receive confirmation information from tag 102 inresponse to a type and quantity of the item being picked and/or placed.

In some embodiments, receiving confirmation information from tag 102 caninclude receiving confirmation information in response to a user ofmobile device 104 pressing a button on tag 102. For example, once a userhas picked and/or placed the correct type and quantity of items from abin associated with tag 102, the user can press a button on tag 102 toconfirm the pick and/or placement of items. Pressing the button on tag102 can cause tag 102 to send the confirmation information to mobiledevice 104.

In some embodiments, receiving confirmation information from tag 102 caninclude receiving confirmation information in response to a userinputting a confirmation code generated by tag 102 into mobile device104. For example, once a user has picked and/or placed the correct typeand quantity of items from a bin associated with tag 102, tag 102 cangenerate a unique confirmation code. The user of mobile device 102 maybe required to enter the confirmation code into mobile device 104 toconfirm the pick and/or placement of items. As a particular example, theuser may be required to type the confirmation code into mobile device104 via an input to mobile device 104 such as a keyboard or via adisplay of mobile device 104. As a further example, a user may berequired to audibly enter (e.g., speak) the confirmation code intomobile device 104; that is, a microphone or other audible receptionmechanism of mobile device 104 may receive the confirmation code as theuser audibly speaks the confirmation code.

In some embodiments, tag 102 can generate the confirmation code inresponse to a user pressing a button on tag 102 to confirm the pickand/or placement of items. For example, once a user has picked and/orplaced the correct item and quantity of item and pressed the button ontag 102, tag 102 can generate the confirmation code to be entered intomobile device 104.

In some embodiments, tag 102 can generate the confirmation code inresponse to mobile device 104 being within the threshold distance of tag102. For example, tag 102 can automatically generate a confirmation codein response to mobile device 104 being within the threshold distance oftag 102. In another example, once mobile device 104 is within thethreshold distance of tag 102, mobile device 104 can include in theinformation sent to tag 102 an instruction to generate the confirmationcode.

Mobile device 104 can receive the confirmation information from tag 102via a network relationship. For example, mobile device 104 can receiveconfirmation information from tag 102 via a wired or wireless network.The wired or wireless network can be a network relationship thatconnects mobile device 104 to tag 102. Examples of such a networkrelationship can include a local area network (LAN), wide area network(WAN), personal area network (PAN), a distributed computing environment(e.g., a cloud computing environment), storage area network (SAN),Metropolitan area network (MAN), a cellular communications network,and/or the Internet, among other types of network relationships.

Mobile device 104 can send the confirmation information received by tag102 to database 106. For example, mobile device 104 can send theconfirmation information received from tag 102 to database 106 via awired or wireless network. The wired or wireless network can be anetwork relationship that connects mobile device 104 to database 106.Examples of such a network relationship can include a local area network(LAN), wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN), adistributed computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment),storage area network (SAN), Metropolitan area network (MAN), a cellularcommunications network, and/or the Internet, among other types ofnetwork relationships.

Sending the confirmation information to database 106 can be important inkeeping accurate records of inventory. For example, once confirmationinformation is received by database 106, a quantity of a particular itemthat was picked and/or placed can be updated in database 106. Inparticular, a quantity of an item can be decreased if the user ispicking items or increased if the user is placing items in order tomaintain an accurate inventory of items in the warehouse.

Mobile device 104 can display a path for a user to tag 102 based on aphysical location of tag 102 as well as a location of mobile device 104.For example, mobile device 104 can utilize location information of tag102 included in the order information received from database 106, aswell as the current location of mobile device 104 to generate anefficient path from the current location of mobile device 104 to tag102, as will be further described in connection with FIG. 3. The pathcan be the most efficient path from the current location of mobiledevice 104 to tag 102.

Generating a path for a user of mobile device 104 can allow for a userto be efficient in travel time between tag/bin locations. For example, auser given a more efficient path between tag/bin locations may be ableto pick and/or place more items in a shorter amount of time.

Mobile device 104 can add one or more additional tags to database 106.For example, a new tag may be placed in a warehouse to correspond with anew bin. Mobile device 104 can utilize a displayed map to digitallyplace the tag and determine the physical location informationcorresponding to the placed tag location. Further, mobile device 104 candefine the new tag's MAC address, as well as other applicableidentification information for the new tag. Mobile device 104 can sendthis information to database 106.

Mobile device 104 can include identify information of a user of mobiledevice 104. For example, a warehouse may have multiple personnelresponsible for picking and/or placing items. Each of these users mayhave a mobile device. Each mobile device can include identityinformation that identifies each user.

Identity information of a user of mobile device 104 and identificationinformation of the tag can be sent to database 106 in response to mobiledevice 104 being within a threshold distance of one of a number of tags.For example, when a user moves by a tag (e.g., within a thresholddistance of a tag (e.g., tag 102)) included in system 100, the mobiledevice can receive the identification information of the tag, and sendthe identity information of mobile device 104 as well as theidentification information of the tag to database 106. Mobile device 104can send to database 106 identity information of mobile device 104, aswell as identification information of each tag the user comes to withina threshold distance of. Database 106 can utilize the identityinformation from mobile device 104, as well as the identificationinformation from each tag to determine a location of the user of mobiledevice 104.

Utilizing the identity information from mobile device 104 as well as theidentification information from the tag can allow database 106 to trackusers as they move about the warehouse. Tracking users can allow for asupervisor of the users to review user performance metrics, as well asallow for more efficient training procedures to be developed.Additionally, indoor positioning can allow for real-time item trackingand monitoring. Further, tracking users can allow for hazard prevention,such as alerting a user of a mobile device that a forklift may benearby.

Receiving order information at a mobile device, scanning foridentification information of a tag included in the order information,and causing a light of the tag to activate once the mobile device iswithin a vicinity (e.g., a threshold distance) of the tag can allow fora low cost and low effort strategy for managing order fulfillmentoperations. Low cost and simple commissioning of tags can allow forusers to easily and quickly navigate a potentially large warehouse andaccurately select the correct type and quantity of item requested.

FIG. 2 illustrates a tag for order fulfillment, in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, tag202 can include a light 208, a display 210, and a button 212.

As previously described in connection with FIG. 1, tag 202 can beassociated with an inventory bin of a warehouse and broadcastidentification information unique to tag 202, and receive informationfrom a mobile device (e.g., mobile device 104, previously described inconnection with FIG. 1) that can include a pick count and instructionsto activate light 208 of tag 202 in response to the mobile device beingwithin a threshold distance of tag 202.

In some embodiments, light 208 can be a light emitting diode (LED). Forexample, tag 202 can include an LED as light 208, where the LED can beactivated as multiple different colors and/or blink frequencies based onthe received information from the mobile device in response to themobile device being within a threshold distance of tag 202.

Although not shown in FIG. 2 for clarity and so as not to obscureembodiments of the present disclosure, tag 202 can include one or morespeakers to play a unique audio tune in response to a user being withina threshold distance of tag 202. That is, tag 202 to play an audio tunethrough one or more speakers of tag 202, where the audio tune is uniqueto each user's mobile device

Tag 202 can display a pick count received in the order information fromthe mobile device via a display 210. Display 210 can be a liquid-crystaldisplay (LCD). For example, the mobile device can send to tag 202 a pickand/or place count (e.g., five items), and the LCD display 210 candisplay the number 5 to a user to indicate the pick and/or place countas being five items.

Once a user has picked and/or placed the correct item and quantity ofitems, the mobile device can receive confirmation information from tag202 in response to the order information being satisfied, as previouslydescribed with respect to FIG. 1. That is, the mobile device can receiveconfirmation information from tag 202 in response to a type and quantityof the item being satisfied.

Tag 202 can generate, based on the information received from the mobiledevice, a confirmation code and display the confirmation code viadisplay 210. For example, a random and/or unique confirmation code canbe displayed via display 210 that a user of the mobile device may needto input into the mobile device to confirm the item type and quantityhas been correctly picked and or placed. That is, the mobile device canreceive confirmation information after the user of the mobile deviceinputs the confirmation code into the mobile device.

Receiving confirmation information from tag 202 can include receivingconfirmation information in response to a user of a mobile devicepressing button 212 on tag 202. For example, once a user has pickedand/or placed the correct type and quantity of items from a binassociated with tag 202, the user can press button 212 on tag 202 toconfirm the pick and/or placement of items.

Although not shown in FIG. 2 for clarity and so as not to obscureembodiments of the present disclosure, tag 202 can include a number ofsensors. The number of sensors of tag 202 can sense, for example, anumber of environmental conditions of the warehouse. The number ofsensors can include ambient pressure, temperature, humidity, lighting,radiation, and/or vibration sensors, although embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited to the sensors listed above.

In some embodiments, temperature sensors can allow tags of the warehouseto monitor dynamic temperature changes and temperature adjustments inthe warehouse. For example, monitoring real time temperature can allowfor temperature management for a more energy efficient warehouse.Additionally, monitoring temperature can allow for fire detection. Forexample, a large temperature rise of one tag relative to other tags mayindicate that a fire may be occurring near the tag.

Humidity sensors can allow tags of the warehouse to monitor humiditychanges and adjustments in the warehouse. For example, in the case of awarehouse storing items such as perishable goods, monitoring thehumidity of the warehouse can prevent item spoilage.

Lighting sensors can allow for tags of the warehouse to monitor ambientlighting in the warehouse. Monitoring the ambient lighting in thewarehouse can allow for tags to detect defective lights. For example, atag can detect a light that may have failed and cause an alert to begenerated to replace the failed lighting source.

Information from the number of sensors can be sent to a database (e.g.,database 106, previously described in connection with FIG. 1) inresponse to the mobile device being within a threshold distance of oneof the number tags. For example, when a user moves by a tag (e.g.,within a threshold distance of a tag), the mobile device can receive theenvironmental conditions from the tag, and transmit the environmentalconditions to the database. Mobile device 104 can transmit environmentalconditions of each tag the user comes to within a threshold distance ofto the database. The database can utilize the environmental conditionssensed by the number of sensors of tag 202, to monitor a warehouse inwhich tag 202 resides.

Tag 202 can be powered by a battery. For example, tag 202 can include abattery to power components of tag 202, such as light 208 and display210. Using a battery to power tag 202 can allow for lower installationcosts by avoiding wiring each tag of the warehouse.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile device for order fulfillment, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG.3, mobile device 304 can include a display of a warehouse map 316.Warehouse map 316 can display a number of tags 302-1, 302-2, 302-N, anda path 314.

Mobile device 304 can display a path to tag 302-1, 302-2, and/or 302-Non warehouse map 316 based on a tag location and a location of mobiledevice 304. For example, mobile device 304 can utilize locationinformation of tag 302-1, 302-2, and/or 302-N included in orderinformation received at mobile device 304 from a database, as well asthe current location of mobile device 304 to generate path 314 from thecurrent location of mobile device 304 to tag 302-1, 302-2, and/or 302-N.

Path 314 can be the most efficient and/or shortest path from the currentlocation of mobile device 304 to one of the number of tags 302-1, 302-2,and/or 302-N. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, mobile device 304 cangenerate path 314 to tag 302-1 that is the most efficient and/orshortest path for a user of mobile device 304 to travel to tag 302-1. Asused herein, the most efficient path can refer to a path that utilizesthe shortest route and/or the shortest travel time from the currentlocation of mobile device 314 to tag 302-1, 302-2, and/or 302-N. Thatis, path 314 can be a fastest and/or most efficient path through thewarehouse to arrive at tag 302-1, 302-2, and/or 302-N.

Mobile device 304 can notify a user in response to the user deviatingfrom path 314. For example, mobile device 314 can generate anotification for a user traveling to tag 302-1 to alert the user thatthe user has deviated from the most efficient path to tag 302-1. As usedherein, a notification from mobile device 314 can include an audiblealert and/or a vibration of mobile device 314, although embodiments ofthe present disclosure are not so limited to an audible and/or avibrational notification. Alerting the user that the user has deviatedfrom the most efficient path 314 can allow the user to move back to themost efficient path 314.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a tag for order fulfillment, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Tag402 can be, for example, tag 102, 202, and 302-1, 302-2, and/or 302-N,previously described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 respectively.Tag 402 can include a memory 420, a processor 418, and a display 422,configured for order fulfillment, in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

The memory 420 can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed bythe processor 418 to perform various examples of the present disclosure.For example, the memory 420 can be a non-transitory computer readablemedium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer programinstructions) stored thereon that are executable by the processor 418 tobroadcast identification information unique to tag 402 and receiveinformation from a mobile device including a pick count and instructionsto activate a light of tag 402 in response to the mobile device beingwithin a threshold distance of tag 402. Additionally, processor 418 canexecute the executable instructions stored in memory 420 to activate,based on the received information, the light in response to the mobiledevice being within a threshold distance of the tag, and display thepick count via display 422.

The memory 420 can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. The memory 420 canalso be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable (e.g.,internal) memory. For example, the memory 420 can be random accessmemory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and/or phasechange random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM) (e.g.,electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and/orcompact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, a laser disc, adigital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical storage, and/or a magneticmedium such as magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types ofmemory.

Further, although memory 420 is illustrated as being located within tag402, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. Forexample, memory 420 can also be located internal to another computingresource (e.g., enabling computer readable instructions to be downloadedover the Internet or another wired or wireless connection).

As used herein, “logic” is an alternative or additional processingresource to execute the actions and/or functions, etc., describedherein, which includes hardware (e.g., various forms of transistorlogic, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.), asopposed to computer executable instructions (e.g., software, firmware,etc.) stored in memory and executable by a processor. It is presumedthat logic similarly executes instructions for purposes of theembodiments of the present disclosure.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of thedisclosure.

It is to be understood that the above description has been made in anillustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of theabove embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically describedherein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing theabove description.

The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure includes anyother applications in which the above structures and methods are used.Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullrange of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are groupedtogether in example embodiments illustrated in the figures for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of thedisclosure require more features than are expressly recited in eachclaim.

Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter liesin less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus for order fulfillment, comprising: amemory; a processor configured to execute executable instructions storedin the memory to: broadcast identification information unique to theapparatus, wherein the apparatus is associated with an inventory bin ofa facility; communicate with a mobile device in response to the mobiledevice being within a threshold distance of the apparatus; in responseto the mobile device being within the threshold distance of theapparatus, receive information from the mobile device, the informationincluding: a pick count of a number of items of the inventory bin; andinstructions to activate a light of the apparatus and play an audio tuneby the apparatus; based on information received from the mobile device,activate the light and play the audio tune, wherein the audio tune isunique to the mobile device; display the pick count; and transmitconfirmation information to the mobile device in response to a button onthe apparatus being pressed indicating the order information beingsatisfied.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor isconfigured to execute the instructions to: sense, by a number of sensorsof the apparatus, a number of environmental conditions; and transmit thenumber of environmental conditions to the mobile device in response tothe mobile device being within the threshold distance of the apparatus.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured toexecute the instructions to: generate, based on the information receivedfrom the mobile device, a confirmation code; and display theconfirmation code.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light of theapparatus is activated in a different color for each different mobiledevice within the threshold distance of the apparatus.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the light of the apparatus continuously blinks at aunique frequency.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light of theapparatus continuously blinks at a unique pattern.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the light of the apparatus continuously blinks at aunique frequency and pattern.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thethreshold distance corresponds to a range of a radio associated with theapparatus.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information furthercomprises identity information of the mobile device, and wherein theprocessor is configured to execute the instructions to: activate thelight and play the audio tune based further on the identity informationreceived from the mobile device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe information further comprises identity information of the apparatus,and wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:activate the light and play the audio tune based further on the identityinformation received from the mobile device.
 11. A method for orderfulfillment, comprising: broadcasting identification information uniqueto a tag, wherein the tag is associated with an inventory bin of afacility; communicating with a mobile device in response to the mobiledevice being within a threshold distance of the tag; in response to themobile device being within the threshold distance of the tag, receivinginformation from the mobile device, the information including: a pickcount of a number of items of the inventory bin; and instructions toactivate a light of the tag and play an audio tune by the tag; based onthe information received from the mobile device, activating the lightand play the audio tune, wherein the audio tune is unique to the mobiledevice; displaying the pick count; and transmitting confirmationinformation to the mobile device in response to a button on the tagbeing pressed indicating the order information being satisfied.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: sensing, by a number of sensorsof the tag, a number of environmental conditions; and transmitting thenumber of environmental conditions to the mobile device in response tothe mobile device being within the threshold distance of the tag. 13.The method of claim 11, further comprising: generating, based on theinformation received from the mobile device, a confirmation code; anddisplaying the confirmation code.
 14. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: in response to the mobile device being within the thresholddistance of the tag, receiving identity information of the mobiledevice; and based further on the identity information received from themobile device, activating the light and play the audio tune.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: in response to the mobile devicebeing within the threshold distance of the tag, receiving identityinformation of the tag; and based further on the identity informationreceived from the mobile device, activating the light and play the audiotune.
 16. A computer program product comprising at least onenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable program code portions stored therein, thecomputer-executable program code portions comprising code instructionsfor: broadcasting identification information unique to a tag, whereinthe tag is associated with an inventory bin of a facility; communicatingwith a mobile device in response to the mobile device being within athreshold distance of the tag; in response to the mobile device beingwithin the threshold distance of the tag, receiving information from themobile device, the information including: a pick count of a number ofitems of the inventory bin; and instructions to activate a light of thetag and play an audio tune by the tag; based on the information receivedfrom the mobile device, activating the light and play the audio tune,wherein the audio tune is unique to the mobile device; displaying thepick count; and transmitting confirmation information to the mobiledevice in response to a button on the tag being pressed indicating theorder information being satisfied.
 17. The computer program product ofclaim 16, the computer-executable program code portions furthercomprising code instructions for: sensing, by a number of sensors of thetag, a number of environmental conditions; and transmitting the numberof environmental conditions to the mobile device in response to themobile device being within the threshold distance of the tag.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 16, the computer-executable programcode portions further comprising code instructions for: generating,based on the information received from the mobile device, a confirmationcode; and displaying the confirmation code.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 16, the computer-executable program code portionsfurther comprising code instructions for: in response to the mobiledevice being within the threshold distance of the tag, receivingidentity information of the mobile device; and based further on theidentity information received from the mobile device, activating thelight and play the audio tune.
 20. The computer program product of claim16, the computer-executable program code portions further comprisingcode instructions for: in response to the mobile device being within thethreshold distance of the tag, receiving identity information of thetag; and based further on the identity information received from themobile device, activating the light and play the audio tune.